Your comments and tips

10 Oct 17, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)

Do your research on how best to grow potatoes in pots. West facing will probably mean more water for all of your pots, as they will get the hotter afternoon sun. Mulch well.

Reply or Post a new comment

02 Nov 17, Filly (Australia - temperate climate)

Thanks for your comment Darren. Yep, I have read that info on my potato quest haha! We'll see how my spuds turn out. Maybe I will receive a medal haha! I am not easily defeated :) Not that I am big on spuds, just trying out something "not so new" in a different environment.

Reply or Post a new comment

02 Oct 17, ANTHONY (Australia - temperate climate)

Hello i have heard that when growing potatoes , we need to trim the plant matter that grows above the ground in order to get a better yield . Is this true

Reply or Post a new comment

03 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Doesn't sound right to me. Potato is related to tomato - as the plant grows the potatoes develop up the stem. Best to hill the soil up as it grows but don't cover all the leaves. The leaves are the energy source to grow the potatoes.

Reply or Post a new comment

01 Oct 17, Denise (Australia - temperate climate)

I would like to grow potatoes from store bought sprouting potatoes in a foam tomato box Can you tell me if potting mix is ok to use alone Do i cut potatoes and which way up do I plant them Thanks

Reply or Post a new comment

02 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

If I understand what you mean by tomato box, you may need something deeper than this. If potatoes are large cut in half and leave in the sun for a couple of days to dry the cut section. Then plant with the flat part down. The shoots will come out the top part.

Reply or Post a new comment

29 Sep 17, Heather (Australia - temperate climate)

I'm growing just a few purple potatoes in a cage following the instructions above. I've never grown potatoes before at all so need some help please. When they sprouted the little plants are not what I imagined. I thought it would be a tallish, narrow shoot but it is a little clump of leaves about 10 cm round (the clump, not each leaf). Do I just bury this whole thing in the next layer of mulch etc? I can't imagine how it will grow through. Perhaps I should have watched more closely and mounded up before the leaves opened, but I didn't notice until they were like this (the leaves are almost the same colour as the compost mix). So, is it OK to bury them now, or should I have done it sooner? I only planted four bits and the first two are as described but the other two are just coming up now, so not too late for those perhaps but they are all together.

Reply or Post a new comment

02 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I have never tried this. As the plant grows just add more mulch/soil around the plant but don't completely cover all leaves. Leave the top leaves out.

Reply or Post a new comment

23 Aug 17, Paul Kelly (Australia - temperate climate)

The leaves on my potatoes seem to be shriveling and dying. Leaving crisp brown holes in the leaves and dead stems. Could it be a fungal disease or insect attack. If it is fungal disease what should I treat it with. Could it be viral?

Reply or Post a new comment

25 Aug 17, Tim (Australia - temperate climate)

How old are your plants? The leaves and stems will die when its time to harvest.

Reply or Post a new comment